Manga Mondays is a meme hosted by Alison at Alison Can Read where bloggers can share their passion for reading mangas. It's a great place to get new manga titles to try and to meet new bloggers. At the moment, I've got sucked into the world of Nana where music is the back drop and fuels the characters' passions and where love and heartbreak go hand in hand.

Description (from Goodreads): The tabloid feeding frenzy has finally brought Blast down, but Nana is determined to keep hope alive. She's going to take a gig as a solo artist, and even accept acting jobs she has no interest in. As long as she keeps herself in the spotlight, she knows there's a chance Blast can make a comeback. But while all eyes are on Nana, what's happening to her friends in the background?!

Review: Valentines Day is the setting in this volume of Nana and things should be great but since happiness is short term in this manga series you can expect a lot of melodramatic moments. As you may recall, Blast's first major tour has been cancelled due to Shin's sudden arrest. In a last ditch effort, Nana O. tried to save the tour by swallowing her pride and asked Ren to fill in Shin's shoes. Ren flat out refused saying it would be an insult to both of their bands and told Nana O. to stop being selfish. I can see his point. When it comes to music and her career, Nana can have tunnel vision. She didn't stop to consider that Ren is not part of her band and that he won't drop everything for her just because he is her husband. Both Nana O. and Ren want to retain their own individuality. Now Nana O. and Ren are in a fight and not speaking to one another. Nana O. is staying at her old apartment while Ren is trying to overcome his drug addition to either cocaine or heroin (I'm not really sure since it just looks like powder in a pouch). Though we do see Ren dumping the drug in a hotel toilet and trying to recommit himself to his band, the next few panels shows him going through really bad withdrawals and ultimately succumbing to the drug. We also find out that a higher person in Trapnest's agency is Ren's supplier and will continue to supply so long as Ren writes hit songs for Trapnest.
Meanwhile a weird love triangle has surfaced between Reira, Takumi, and Shin. Reira is refusing to back down from her strong feelings towards Takumi. She gives him a box of chocolate and confesses that she has always been in love with him. Taken aback, Takumi shuts off all of his emotions. He talks cruelly to her in hopes that she would leave him alone. He insists that she has no feelings for him and that she is projecting what she feels for Shin on to him. Reira gets angry and says that no matter who she loves, he will always be the first one on that list. In response, Takumi says that the only way for Reira to be with him is to regulate herself as one of his many mistresses. Reira immediately accepts, which shocks both Takumi and myself. I've never been fond of Takumi and Reira as a potential couple, but Yazawa manages to make us care for them by showing how their relationship has evolved since being introduced to one another as kids. Though it is clear that Reira's feeling for Takumi have never wavered from love. She sees the best in him. Contrastly, Takumi fluctuates between caring and even possibly loving Reira but has always used her as an instrument to get ahead. Perhaps now he's willing to open himself up to Reira.
What makes the Reira, Takumi, and Shin love triangle interesting is that Takumi is the one who separated Reira and Shin not because he had feelings for Reira but he was afraid that this relationship would bring scandal to the band since Shin is technically a minor. Now that Reira is willing to be his mistress, Takumi is afraid of himself and what he might do. He is clearly attracted to Reira since they kissed passionately a few times and I have no doubt they would have gone further if they weren't interrupted by their assistant manager. Unsure of himself, Takumi actually advises Shin to get back with Reira and hopes that Shin would return to Reira so he doesn't have to think about Reira anymore. I was thrilled to see Shin refusing to rush back to Reira and saying that he has to get his priorities straight. With Shin out of the picture, Takumi and Reira have full reign and I just know things are going to be messy.

Rating: 4 stars

Words of Caution: While there isn't strong language or sexual situations in this novel, there are mature themes discussed. I would still recommend this series to mature teens and adults only.

If you like this book try: We Were There by Yuuki Obata, Nana Vol 20 by Ai Yazawa, Honey and Clover by Chica Umino, Tramps Like Us by Yayoi Ogawa

"In response, Takumi says that the only way for Reira to be with him is to regulate herself as one of his many mistresses. Reira immediately accepts, which shocks both Takumi and myself."

Ummmmm WHAT?! Who does that? I can't imagine "loving" someone in a way that would make me go "why yes, I'd love to be a part of your stable of women, just add me to the rotation please." Pass:) This is a crazy manga series Rummanah!

Your statement that when Reira wanted to be Takumi's mistress that he didn't know what to do reminded me of my friend. He's big talk. Everything I say gets turned into innuendo. But then he found this gorgeous girl who was really into him and he was afraid to date her because he'd be moving away soon and didn't want to take advantage of her :-)Kind of off topic from Nana here but that's what it reminded me of.

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